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Malaria could have caused both the symptoms experienced during the return flight
and the symptoms that started after return to the U.S.
The shortest incubation period occurs in Plasmodium falciparum malaria,
where symptoms may occur as early as 8 days after the infecting mosquito bite.
Thus, the symptoms that developed during the patient’s return flight (16
days after first possible exposure to infective Anopheles) and after
the patient’s return to the United States (25 days after first possible
exposure) both occurred after the minimum incubation period, and are compatible
with malaria. The time intervals in this case are well within the longest possible
incubation periods. These can be very extended due to drug intake or immunity,
both of which can delay the appearance of symptoms.
Page last modified : July 30, 2004
Content source: Division of Parasitic Diseases
National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (ZVED)
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